Dural arteriovenous fistulas

Dural arteriovenous fistulas may lead to rapidly progressive cognitive impairment, a potentially reversible dementia

• Cases described have included presentation w/ headache, progressive confusion, and memory loss w/ rapid progressive over the course of 2 weeks to 12 months. Some developed seizures, gait instability, aphasia, facial palsy, or hemiparesis. A bruit was sometimes heard over the skull.
• Diagnosis
  • made by angiogram
  • MRI findings include high intensity in cerebral/cerebellar white matter w/ enlarged vessels over hemispheric surface or rarely basal ganglia hyperintensity.
• Treatment
  • embolization, surgery, or embolization and surgery have led to improvement.